ROCKINGHAM — A second-half comeback was nearly completed by the Richmond Senior High School girls’ soccer team Monday.
Starting their 2025 season at home, the Lady Raiders allowed a late goal in a 2-1 loss to non-conference Jack Britt High School.
Chances were plentiful for Richmond, which erased a one-goal deficit in the second half before the Lady Buccaneers netted the game winner in the closing minutes.
Head coach Chris Larsen called the season opener a good challenge for the team, adding there were several things he saw that the Lady Raiders did well and can build on as the season progresses.
Sophomore Colbie Covington netted Richmond’s goal in the match, which was assisted by senior Hanna Smith.
A scoreless first half had a couple of near misses for the Lady Raiders. The first came in the third minute when Covington sent a corner kick into the box that was redirected by senior Genesis Alicea inside the six-yard box but was stopped.
Sophomore goalkeeper Leslie Santiago, starting in place of Sa’Quanna Bostic (basketball playoffs), kept the game scoreless in the 14th minute when she stopped a rocket from 20 yards. Junior center back Jentry Denson finished the play by clearing it out.
Richmond had two more quality chances in the opening 40 minutes. Covington sent a shot on frame from the left side of the box in the 24th minute.
With seven seconds to go in the half, senior Ashly Gonzalez tapped a free kick to Mariana Gonzalez inside of the 18-yard box, but her shot went high and right of the wall defending the net.
Jack Britt (1-0) got on the board in the 53rd minute on a 30-yard strike that arced its way over the outstretched hands of Santiago.
Covington nearly tied the match on a rush down the left side six minutes later, but her tight-angled shot was stopped along the near post.
Denson played hero again when she saved a goal in the 61st minute, using her foot to stop a shot on a wide-open net, forcing the ball out of bounds.
Covington’s hustle paid off with her first goal of the season in the 69th minute. Smith collected a takeaway near midfield and started the run in the other direction.
She threaded the ball through a pair of defenders to a racing Covington, who burst into the box and sent a shot from the left side into the net near the back post.
Richmond’s excitement was short-lived, however, as Jack Britt scored the game-winning goal on a shot in the 77th minute that snuck its way under the crossbar.
The Lady Raiders had a couple of chances late in the game, including a cross from Smith that trickled across the goal mouth and a Denson corner kick that didn’t connect.
The Lady Raiders (0-1) will continue their three-match opening week Wednesday at non-conference Terry Sanford High School. The varsity match will begin at 6:30 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders open season with close loss
The Richmond junior varsity girls’ soccer team also opened its season Monday against Jack Britt with a loss.
Despite a comeback attempt, the JV Lady Raiders lost 3-2.
The JV Lady Buccaneers took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute on a rush into the box.
Sophomore Cadence Gazoo had Richmond’s best look on goal in the first half, but her shot from the top of the 18-yard box was stopped.
Goals in the 40th and 43rd minutes put Jack Britt ahead 3-0.
Sophomore Addison Smith scored Richmond’s first goal of the season in the 45th minute. She stole possession at the top of the box and sent a low shot inside the right post.
Gazoo capitalized in the 56th minute for the JV Lady Raiders’ final goal. A weak goal kick went right to Gazoo along the left side of the box, who booted a shot to the far post for her first tally.
Freshman Sherlyn Ramirez played the majority of Monday’s opener in goal. Sophomore Armoni Wall played the final 10 minutes.
“We played a better second half than the first half,” head coach Bennie Howard said. “We made a couple silly mistakes that allowed their goals, but I told the girls to learn from them.”
The JV Lady Raiders (0-1) will also play at Terry Sanford Wednesday. The match will start at 4:30 p.m.
